{"id":10507,"date":"2025-11-19T06:41:53","date_gmt":"2025-11-19T06:41:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gocohospitality.com\/?p=10507"},"modified":"2025-11-19T06:41:53","modified_gmt":"2025-11-19T06:41:53","slug":"wellness-experts-series-the-vision-behind-global-wellness-day","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gocohospitality.com\/zh-hans\/wellness-experts-series-the-vision-behind-global-wellness-day\/","title":{"rendered":"Wellness Experts Series | The Vision Behind Global Wellness Day"},"content":{"rendered":"

Wellness Experts Series \u2013 <\/span><\/b>The Vision Behind Global Wellness Day<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/h2>\n

Belgin Aksoy
\n\u00a0<\/h3>\n

Belgin Aksoy has dedicated more than three decades to the tourism and hotel industry, with over 20 years focused on wellness. A graduate of the Institute Hotelier C\u00e9sar Ritz in Switzerland, Belgin is the visionary founder of <\/span>Global Wellness Day<\/span><\/i>, a social movement that inspires millions each year across tens of thousands of locations in over 170 countries.<\/span>\u00a0
\n\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"BelginBelgin Aksoy<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Guided by the powerful belief that <\/span>\u201cOne day can change your whole life!\u201d<\/span><\/i>, Global Wellness Day is celebrated every second Saturday of June with free, public wellness activities aimed at encouraging healthier living in mind, body and spirit. Belgin\u2019s contributions to the industry have earned her international recognition, including the <\/span>\u201cLeading Woman in Wellness\u201d<\/span><\/b> award from the Global Wellness Summit, the <\/span>\u201cPersonality of the Year\u201d<\/span><\/b> award by La F\u00e9d\u00e9ration des Professionnels du Bien-\u00catre, and most recently, <\/span>\u201cCommitment to Excellence in Health & Wellbeing\u201d<\/span><\/b> by the Seven Stars Luxury Hospitality and Lifestyle Awards.<\/span>\u00a0
\n\u00a0
\nThis month, we had the honour of speaking with Belgin about the journey behind <\/span>Global Wellness Day<\/span><\/i>, the challenges and opportunities in wellness today, and how individuals can find purpose even in the face of adversity.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0
\nGOCO:<\/span><\/b>\u202fYou have created a truly global movement with Global Wellness Day that inspires millions. Could you share what motivated you to bring this vision to life, and what keeps you inspired to grow it further each year?<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0
\nBelgin:<\/span><\/b> The vision for Global Wellness Day came from a deeply personal place. After facing a significant health challenge, I realised that wellness, living well in body, mind and spirit, is not just a luxury but a fundamental right for everyone. I asked myself, \u201cIf living well is a universal dream, why isn\u2019t there a global day dedicated to it?\u201d That simple question sparked the idea for Global Wellness Day in 2012, intending to inspire people to pause and reflect on one critical question: \u201cHow can I live a healthier and better life?\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What motivated me to bring this vision to life was the belief that even one day of awareness could ignite lasting change. I wanted to create a movement that wasn\u2019t about profit but about people, uniting communities, individuals and organisations to prioritise wellbeing. The slogan \u201cOne day can change your whole life\u201d reflects this: a single moment of mindfulness, a small step like drinking more water or taking a walk, can set someone on a path to a healthier, happier life.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What keeps me inspired to grow it each year is seeing the ripple effect. From a single event in Turkey, Global Wellness Day has spread to over 170 countries, reaching millions through free activities like yoga, meditation, nature walks and community clean-ups. The stories of impact, whether it\u2019s a child discovering yoga, a workplace embracing mental health discussions or a community planting trees, fuel my passion. The 2025 theme, #ReconnectMagenta, has seen landmarks like the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge in Istanbul lit up in magenta, symbolising the global unity and transformation this movement fosters.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"GlobalGlobal Wellness Day in Italy<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

The support from global figures like Oprah Winfrey, Dr Mehmet Oz and Wim Hof, alongside grassroots efforts from ambassadors and volunteers, shows me that this movement resonates universally. Every year, the creativity of how people celebrate inspires me to push further, ensuring wellness becomes a priority not just for one day, but for all 365 days of the year.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

GOCO:<\/span><\/b>\u202fIn your view, what are the greatest challenges and opportunities facing the global wellness industry today?<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Belgin:<\/span><\/b> One of the greatest challenges is accessibility. Wellness is often perceived as something exclusive or expensive, when in fact, it should be a basic human right. As I always say, <\/span>\u201c<\/span><\/i>wellness is not a luxury, but the inherent right of every individual\u201d<\/span><\/i>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

There\u2019s a growing gap between those who can afford wellness and those who cannot. At the same time, this challenge is also an opportunity to redefine wellness, democratise it, and make it inclusive and available to all.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Another challenge is the over-commercialisation of wellness. The industry risks losing its authenticity when the focus shifts too much to trends rather than truth. But here lies another opportunity: to return to the roots of wellness – connection, nature, movement, mindfulness and service. The more we focus on these timeless pillars, the more we can contribute meaningfully to the health of our societies and our planet.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0
\nGOCO:\u202fHow do you see the future of wellness evolving over the next decade, especially in light of the growing focus on mental health, community connection and sustainability?<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Belgin:<\/span><\/b> First of all, wellness will be democratised, it will be a universal right, not a luxury but the inherent right of every individual.\u202fThe future of wellness must be holistic and integrated.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Mental health will no longer be a side conversation; it will be at the heart of wellness initiatives. The pandemic has taught us that emotional resilience, human connection and mental wellbeing are not optional, they are essential.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

We\u2019ll also see a deeper merging of wellness and environmental consciousness. People are recognising that we cannot be well if the planet is unwell. Sustainable practices, from conscious consumption to regenerative design, will become non-negotiable.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"GlobalGlobal Wellness Day Mexico<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

And finally, I believe we will return to the community. True wellness is not an individual pursuit; it thrives in connection. Whether it\u2019s gathering for breathwork in a local park or sharing a meal with loved ones, we\u2019ll see more emphasis on collective wellbeing as the path forward.<\/span>\u00a0
\n\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0
\nGOCO:\u202fWhat simple practices or mindsets would you encourage individuals to adopt daily to create a more balanced, meaningful and well-lived\u202flife?<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Belgin:<\/span><\/b> To create a more balanced, meaningful and well-lived life I would definitely suggest <\/span>the Global Wellness Day\u2019s simple 7-Step Manifesto which is accessible to all, regardless of social or economic backgrounds. By embracing GWD’s 7-Step Manifesto, anyone can celebrate Global Wellness Day and embark on their personal journey towards wellbeing.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

GWD\u2019s 7 Step Manifesto<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Walk for an hour<\/span> daily<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. Drink more water<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  3. Don\u2019t use plastic bottles<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  4. Eat healthy food<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  5. Do a good deed<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  6. Have a family dinner with your loved ones<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  7. Sleep at 10:00 pm<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    \"GlobalGlobal Wellness Day Thailand<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

    GOCO:<\/span><\/b>\u202fAs someone who has turned a personal health challenge into a worldwide positive force, what advice would you offer to people who are facing their own struggles and seeking purpose?<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    Belgin:<\/span><\/b> Your pain can become your power. Every challenge carries the seed of transformation. When I was battling illness, I didn\u2019t know what the future would hold, but I knew I wanted to live a life with purpose. Purpose doesn\u2019t always appear as a lightning bolt; sometimes it grows quietly through resilience, patience and reflection.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    My advice is this: don\u2019t be afraid to feel deeply. Lean into your experience. Ask yourself what your heart needs and how you can use your story to uplift others. The most beautiful missions often come from the most difficult moments. Remember, one day can change your whole life, especially if that day begins with hope.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Wellness Experts Series \u2013 The Vision Behind Global Well […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":10513,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[172,61,2],"tags":[173,171],"class_list":["post-10507","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-wellness-expert-series","category-health-and-fitness","category-wellness-trends","tag-wellness-expert","tag-wellness-article"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nWellness Experts Series | The Vision Behind Global Wellness Day<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"We spoke with Belgin Aksoy about the journey behind Global Wellness Day, the challenges and opportunities in wellness today, and how individuals can find purpose even in the face of adversity.\u00a0\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gocohospitality.com\/wellness-experts-series-the-vision-behind-global-wellness-day\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"zh_CN\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Wellness Experts Series | The Vision Behind Global Wellness Day\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"We spoke with Belgin Aksoy about the journey behind Global Wellness Day, the challenges and opportunities in wellness today, and how individuals can find purpose even in the face of adversity.\u00a0\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.gocohospitality.com\/wellness-experts-series-the-vision-behind-global-wellness-day\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Spa & Wellness Consulting\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-11-19T06:41:53+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.gocohospitality.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/WellnessExperts-Belgin-03.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"2048\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"784\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Cecile Nguyen\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"\u4f5c\u8005\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Cecile Nguyen\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"\u9884\u8ba1\u9605\u8bfb\u65f6\u95f4\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"6\u5206\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.gocohospitality.com\/wellness-experts-series-the-vision-behind-global-wellness-day\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.gocohospitality.com\/wellness-experts-series-the-vision-behind-global-wellness-day\/\",\"name\":\"Wellness Experts Series | The Vision Behind Global Wellness Day\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.gocohospitality.com\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2025-11-19T06:41:53+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-11-19T06:41:53+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.gocohospitality.com\/#\/schema\/person\/374ff929fbb00cc61eab6948ebc088c8\"},\"description\":\"We spoke with Belgin Aksoy about the journey behind Global Wellness Day, the challenges and opportunities in wellness today, and how individuals can find purpose even in the face of adversity.\u00a0\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.gocohospitality.com\/wellness-experts-series-the-vision-behind-global-wellness-day\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"zh-CN\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.gocohospitality.com\/wellness-experts-series-the-vision-behind-global-wellness-day\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.gocohospitality.com\/wellness-experts-series-the-vision-behind-global-wellness-day\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.gocohospitality.com\/zh-hans\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Wellness Experts Series | The Vision Behind Global Wellness Day\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.gocohospitality.com\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.gocohospitality.com\/\",\"name\":\"Spa & Wellness Consulting\",\"description\":\"GOCO Hospitality\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.gocohospitality.com\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":\"required name=search_term_string\"}],\"inLanguage\":\"zh-CN\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.gocohospitality.com\/#\/schema\/person\/374ff929fbb00cc61eab6948ebc088c8\",\"name\":\"Cecile Nguyen\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"zh-CN\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.gocohospitality.com\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/43150404e911bbd8af838755091b743d?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/43150404e911bbd8af838755091b743d?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Cecile Nguyen\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/www.gocohospitality.com\"],\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.gocohospitality.com\/zh-hans\/author\/cecile\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Wellness Experts Series | The Vision Behind Global Wellness Day","description":"We spoke with Belgin Aksoy about the journey behind Global Wellness Day, the challenges and opportunities in wellness today, and how individuals can find purpose even in the face of adversity.\u00a0","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.gocohospitality.com\/wellness-experts-series-the-vision-behind-global-wellness-day\/","og_locale":"zh_CN","og_type":"article","og_title":"Wellness Experts Series | The Vision Behind Global Wellness Day","og_description":"We spoke with Belgin Aksoy about the journey behind Global Wellness Day, the challenges and opportunities in wellness today, and how individuals can find purpose even in the face of adversity.\u00a0","og_url":"https:\/\/www.gocohospitality.com\/wellness-experts-series-the-vision-behind-global-wellness-day\/","og_site_name":"Spa & Wellness Consulting","article_published_time":"2025-11-19T06:41:53+00:00","og_image":[{"width":2048,"height":784,"url":"https:\/\/www.gocohospitality.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/WellnessExperts-Belgin-03.png","type":"image\/png"}],"author":"Cecile Nguyen","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"\u4f5c\u8005":"Cecile Nguyen","\u9884\u8ba1\u9605\u8bfb\u65f6\u95f4":"6\u5206"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.gocohospitality.com\/wellness-experts-series-the-vision-behind-global-wellness-day\/","url":"https:\/\/www.gocohospitality.com\/wellness-experts-series-the-vision-behind-global-wellness-day\/","name":"Wellness Experts Series | The Vision Behind Global Wellness Day","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.gocohospitality.com\/#website"},"datePublished":"2025-11-19T06:41:53+00:00","dateModified":"2025-11-19T06:41:53+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.gocohospitality.com\/#\/schema\/person\/374ff929fbb00cc61eab6948ebc088c8"},"description":"We spoke with Belgin Aksoy about the journey behind Global Wellness Day, the challenges and opportunities in wellness today, and how individuals can find purpose even in the face of adversity.\u00a0","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.gocohospitality.com\/wellness-experts-series-the-vision-behind-global-wellness-day\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"zh-CN","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.gocohospitality.com\/wellness-experts-series-the-vision-behind-global-wellness-day\/"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.gocohospitality.com\/wellness-experts-series-the-vision-behind-global-wellness-day\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.gocohospitality.com\/zh-hans\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Wellness Experts Series | The Vision Behind Global Wellness Day"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.gocohospitality.com\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.gocohospitality.com\/","name":"Spa & Wellness Consulting","description":"GOCO Hospitality","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.gocohospitality.com\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":"required name=search_term_string"}],"inLanguage":"zh-CN"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.gocohospitality.com\/#\/schema\/person\/374ff929fbb00cc61eab6948ebc088c8","name":"Cecile Nguyen","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"zh-CN","@id":"https:\/\/www.gocohospitality.com\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/43150404e911bbd8af838755091b743d?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/43150404e911bbd8af838755091b743d?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Cecile Nguyen"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.gocohospitality.com"],"url":"https:\/\/www.gocohospitality.com\/zh-hans\/author\/cecile\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gocohospitality.com\/zh-hans\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10507"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gocohospitality.com\/zh-hans\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gocohospitality.com\/zh-hans\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gocohospitality.com\/zh-hans\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gocohospitality.com\/zh-hans\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10507"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.gocohospitality.com\/zh-hans\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10507\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10516,"href":"https:\/\/www.gocohospitality.com\/zh-hans\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10507\/revisions\/10516"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gocohospitality.com\/zh-hans\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/10513"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gocohospitality.com\/zh-hans\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10507"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gocohospitality.com\/zh-hans\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10507"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gocohospitality.com\/zh-hans\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10507"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}